The number of drug addicts using crack is increasing. Moreover, this group of users is often out of sight of aid workers, despite their “large and often complex care needs,” according to research by addiction institute Trimbos and aid organization Mainline.
Crack, a smokable form of cocaine, is now the most used drug among problematic hard drug users. This means that the group is larger for the first time than the number of heroin and methadone users. The researchers estimate that there are a total of 27,900 crack users in the Netherlands.
It is striking that a large proportion of crack users remain out of sight of addiction care. Only 31 percent of people who only use crack are registered in the national system for addiction care LADIS. For heroin and methadone users, this is 61 percent.
Homeless people in particular have started smoking more crack in recent years. Four in ten users do not have a permanent place to live and remain out of sight of care institutions. Although many suffer from mental health problems, most do not use mental health care.
Crack gives a euphoric feeling for about ten minutes and is very addictive. An important cause of the increased demand is the decreased street value. A ball of crack costs about 5 euros.
For the research, field workers from the Mainline Foundation spoke with 520 hard drug users in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Eindhoven, Groningen, Haarlem and Heerlen. Participants were found in public spaces and facilities for social care.